{Do we have structure??}

 The rivets are going in to connect the pieces!  I think this is the part Greg likes best!  He could probably tell you how many rivets each piece takes (of course, there are over 12,000 of these to go!!)

 Each cleeko comes out right before the rivet goes in....

 And, yes there is structure!  I even recognized the ribs in the plans he has.  This is the first part of the vertical stabilizer of the tail section.....

 And this is the skin that covers the ribs.....

 Some minor cuts/adjustments have to be made......

 The blue protective covering comes off and now for the nut plates to be riveted in place. 

Another piece to the tail....

Next week, the skin will be attached to the ribs and it will look more like the tail section!  Stay tuned!

{Taking shape}

 The project is well underway.  Greg is patient with all the steps...me on the other hand.....not so much!  Good thing this is his project!  I couldn't do one step, take it apart to do the next step, put it back together for the next step.  You get the idea........

 

{Section 6.1-6.2}

Here's an upclose look at the drilling and deburring.  Cleekos are in place to hold the drilled areas together until rivets are in.  These parts are part of the tail section.

{First Rivets}

 The process began with studying plans, laying out the pieces, studying the plans, grinding, drilling, studying the plans, deburring, cleeko-ing, studying the plans, and FINALLY, riveting!!! 

 It starts with organizing the shop....everything in its place, ya know!

 Workbench all ready to go....

 Plans ready to go......

 Grinder ready to go......

 Measure twice, drill once......

 And finally......

Rivets....ten of them....the first two completed parts.  Only 100s more to go!

{366 days later}

The first steps have been taken!  Deburring,  cleeko-ing, drilling, riveting.....all words that we have added to our vocabulary!

Starting the process

Cleeko-ing

Deburring

Tools of the trade

And of course....chocolate...brain food, ya know!

{The project has begun!}

It all started on 8/28/2009 - the tail or empanage arrived in the back of our truck! Here are the first pictures of the plane in its beginning stage.

It's hard to imagine this is the tail section!

All ready to be opened!

The first pieces.....

It's all laid out...thank goodness we have a large hangar to put it all in!

Greg is busy studying the inventory sheet.  The rack behind him is the organizer - full of baby food jars ready for small parts.